Botox catalogue offer fears

9th July 2007

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has expressed its concern over the sale of cosmetic treatments by Grattan.

Grattan, a UK clothing catalogue, lists a variety of treatments - including Botox, skin peels and lip enhancements - which are provided by Transform Cosmetic Surgery. Customers are able to buy the treatments and pay the balance by installments.

BAAPS issued a statement to caution the public against purchase of treatments of this type by catalogue. They were also critical of a competition advertised in the catalogue to win treatments in a "cosmetic makeover" programme on Channel 4.

BAAPS president Douglas McGeorge, a consultant plastic surgeon, expressed his surprise that a cosmetic surgery company "claiming to
provide quality of care" had made the decision to market their services via a catalogue.

He said: "It is essential the public understand that aesthetic
procedures, even if they are non-surgical, are not commodities to buy
off-the-shelf and cannot later be exchanged for a different style or
size."

He warned that although side effects for these types of treatment were "rare," they did occur and stressed the need for "proper consultation."

Mr
McGeorge mentioned that Allergan, the manufacturers of Botox, had recently issued a statement to highlight the fact that the treatment should only be given by doctors and that it could cause an adverse reaction in certain people.

Pat Dunion, operations director from Transform Cosmetic Surgery, said the company was regulated by the Healthcare Commission. He emphasised that all customers received thorough consultations and skilled care.